US President, Joe Biden Struggles in Fiery Debate with Donald Trump
Joe Biden faced a challenging night on Thursday as he struggled to dispel concerns about his age during a heated debate with Donald Trump, marked by personal attacks and fiery exchanges.
Trump, known for his bombastic style, attacked Biden on multiple fronts, calling him a failure in handling the economy and international affairs. Biden attempted to respond but often faltered, speaking rapidly in a raspy voice, stumbling over his words, and appearing visibly strained.
His performance, following a week of seclusion in preparation, raised fresh worries within the Democratic Party, especially as recent polls show Trump either tied with or leading Biden for the November election.
This debate, the first-ever between a sitting president and a former president, saw both men accusing each other of being the worst in history.
The two, who hold the record for being the oldest presidents at the time of their election, even resorted to childish taunts over their golf skills.
As they walked to their podiums at CNN headquarters in Atlanta, Biden, 81, and Trump, 78, did not shake hands. The debate had no live audience, and the candidates’ microphones were muted when the other was speaking.
Biden, reportedly battling a cold, used rehearsed lines to remind viewers that Trump could become the first convicted felon to hold the presidency.
“You have the morals of an alley cat,” Biden said.
Trump, leveraging his experience from rallies and reality TV, spoke loudly and clearly, listing numerous grievances about Biden’s presidency.
“I’m friends with a lot of people. They cannot believe what happened to the United States of America. We’re no longer respected,” Trump said.
He also mocked Biden’s faltering delivery, saying, “I really don’t know what he said at the end of that sentence. I don’t think he knows what he said either.”
‘Slow Start’
Vice President Kamala Harris quickly moved into damage control. In a live CNN interview, Harris defended Biden’s record as “extraordinarily strong” but acknowledged the debate performance was concerning.
“Yes, there was a slow start, but it was a strong finish,” Harris said.
Kate Bedingfield, Biden’s former communications director, expressed her disappointment on CNN, saying, “It was a really disappointing evening for the president. I don’t think there is any other way to slice it.” A CNN poll showed 67 percent of viewers believed Trump won the debate.
Democrats are poised to formally nominate Biden as their candidate in August in Chicago, with few options to change course unless Biden withdraws himself.
Biden’s Challenge
Biden has been working to counteract Trump’s narrative that he lacks the vigor necessary for the presidency.
However, Princeton historian Julian Zelizer remarked that Biden’s supporters would be “extremely concerned,” adding, “Biden fueled the basic perception that has continued to overshadow him.”
At a watch party in San Francisco, Hazel Reitz, despite planning to vote for Biden, lamented, “I can’t understand a word that he says. Isn’t it sad?”
Personal Attacks Dominate
The debate saw few new policy proposals, with both candidates focusing on attacking each other’s records.
The personal nature of the exchanges underscored the intense rivalry between the two, setting the stage for a highly contentious election season.
